Vertical Plug-Flow Bioconversion of Biomass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for bio-conversion of biomass substrates, such as soya beans and rape seeds, face challenges in achieving uniform plug-flow conditions and maintaining low costs, especially due to issues with water content and transportation by gravitational force.
Innovation Solution
A vertical, non-agitated tank is used for the bio-conversion process, where the water content is maintained between 30% to 70% by weight, and the wet bulk density to dry bulk density ratio is kept between 0.60 to 1.45, ensuring uniform plug-flow and efficient processing without agitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water content is increased to improve bio-conversion efficiency, then enzyme activity is enhanced, but the mixture compacts and transportation by gravitational force is stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter to a specific range (30-70% by weight) and controls the wet bulk density to dry bulk density ratio (0.60-1.45) to achieve the right balance between enzyme activity and gravitational flow, resolving the contradiction between bio-conversion efficiency and transportation speed
2Productivity
If water content is increased to enhance enzyme activity, then bio-conversion is improved, but uniform plug-flow is disrupted and retention time becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for water content (30-70%) and bulk density ratio (0.60-1.45) to maintain uniform plug-flow conditions while enabling effective bio-conversion, preventing both compacting and channeling issues
3Device complexity
If a vertical non-agitated tank is used to simplify reactor design and reduce costs, then device complexity is reduced, but achieving uniform plug-flow conditions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the lack of agitation by precisely controlling material parameters (water content 30-70%, bulk density ratio 0.60-1.45) to ensure the mixture maintains proper flow characteristics and uniform plug-flow behavior in the vertical non-agitated tank
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for the production of bio-products with enhanced protein content, modified sugar profiles, improved nutritional value, reduced anti-nutritional factors, and improved palatability, while maintaining low operational costs and efficient processing.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous plug flow process in a vertical, non-agitated tank where the transport is mediated by gravitational force
Implementation Method 2
the bio-conversion is carried out by the use of one or more suitable enzyme preparations
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a solid transformation product of a substrate comprising the following steps: • preparing a substrate of biomass comprising carbohydrates and proteinaceous matter that originates from soya bean, rape seed, or mixtures thereof, optionally in further mixture with carbohydrates and proteinaceous matter originating from fava beans, peas, sunflower seeds, lupine, cereals, and/or grasses, • mixing said substrate with an enzyme preparation or a combination of enzyme preparations and adding water in an amount which provides an initial incubation mixture having a water content from 30 to 70 % by weight, and a ratio of wet bulk density to dry bulk density from 0.60 to 1.45 in the resulting mixture; • incubating said initial incubation mixture for 0.15-72 hours at a temperature of 20-70 °C; and thereafter recovering wet solid transformation product from the incubated mixture; further comprising that the incubating step is performed as a continuous plug-flow process in a vertical, non-agitated incubation tank with inlet means for said mixture and additives and outlet means for said solid transformation product.